Magnitude 5.1 earthquake strikes Ecuador's capital of Quito

A 5.1 earthquake has struck around 22.5 km northeast of Ecuador's capital, Quito, followed by a 4.3 magnitude aftershock. At least two people have been killed as the tremors caused several landslides and trapped at least three people in a collapsed mine.

At least eight people were injured, a government office said via Twitter, Reuters reports. The country's Risk Management office said firemen were working to rescue those who had been trapped in Catequilla mine.

The epicenters of both earthquakes were recorded at a depth of around 5 kilometers, according to preliminary data from the Geophysical Institute of Ecuador.

Following the quakes, the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito suspended operations as a precaution and urged passengers to leave the terminals. Operations were resumed an hour later, after airport officials ensured the infrastructure wasn’t damaged.